Radio Station Offers Piper High Students On-air Experience

They sit in a small room for an hour at a time, their only link to the world a microphone and a small window looking out onto a high school hallway.

This is how some Piper High School students spend class time, as disc jockeys for the school`s FM radio station, 88.5 WKPX.

WKPX, which began transmissions in February 1983, is one of the more popular radio stations among local high school and college students. It was set up to provide a hands-on opportunity for students.

Student Kevin Saunders became involved with the radio station because, ``It seems to be a fun, exciting field.``

On a map, WKPX is in Sunrise on the Piper High School campus. The station is owned by the School Board of Broward County and has a teacher station manager, Joanne Boggus, a student station manager, Anthony Sturgess, and two assistant student station managers, Joel Natt and Ben Rose.

``My job is to make sure we come under all (Federal Communication Commission) rules and regulations,`` Natt said.

The station`s regular rotation consists mostly of progressive bands such as Concrete Blonde, Nine Inch Nails and Janes` Addiction. Other types of music with smaller audiences get their own shows. These include Overdrive, a thrash metal show, and the Bump Show, which features bass, hip-hop and house.

Other shows include Ground Zero, which plays music from `80s alternative bands such as Blondie and Men Without Hats. Another show, No Class, true to its name, is an all-request show that plays music from pop to industrial hardcore.

The station also has news spots, sports updates and often airs high school sporting events and School Board meetings.

Being on the air is only one of the aspects of working at the station. Much goes on behind the scenes. Incoming new material must be screened and play lists must be set up. Other tasks include deciding on the rotation schedule of songs and making public service announcements.

Getting on the air is not the simple matter of having a good speaking voice. Students must take a test on FCC rules and regulations and do an on-air check. They must also know the equipment and have working knowledge of the engineering aspects of running the station.

After operating for almost nine years, the station received a permenant FCC license in October.